How it works
Thermotherapy is effective
The mechanisms of action of thermotherapy consist of a plethora of microscopic and macroscopic enhancements of the primary therapies
Van den Tempel et al. elucidated many aspects of the Mechanisms of Action playing a role in the combination of radiation and hyperthermia. This is illustrated in the animation.
Recently, Issels et al. demonstrated that the combination of chemotherapy with regional hyperthermia in the treatment of patients primes the tumor microenvironment, enabling immunological anti-tumor activity in high-risk soft tissue sarcomas.
Therefore, it is no surprise that randomised clinical trials of mainstream cancer treatments combined with thermotherapy are demonstrating better results with the same side-effects.
Summary of complete local tumour control reported by randomized or nonrandomized two arm clinical studies for various tumour sites with radiotherapy (RT) (± chemotherapy) versus radiotherapy (± chemotherapy) and loco-regional hyperthermia. Datta et al. CTR 2015.
Datta et al. are giving a strong indication that heating a tumour in combination with mainstream cancer treatments gives an improved clinical outcome. Moreover, Sensius has a comprehensive strategy to conduct clinical trials to compare these interventions.
Following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, patients are at risk for developing a recurrent or second tumour. Often re-irradation is required in these patients, which is hampered in dose by the previous irradiation. In the study indicated below, we have used a new hyperthermia applicator in order to increase the effectivity of the radiotherapy. By applying thermotherapy in the future, temperature feedback is warranted to apply heat at the maximum dose without toxicity. This means we are well on our way to balance the clinical outcome with the Quality of Life.
Ref. Feasibility, SAR Distribution, and Clinical Outcome upon Reirradiation and Deep Hyperthermia Using the Hypercollar3D in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Kroesen et al. Cancers 2021, 13(23), 6149; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13236149
